Advocates pin hopes on Ma¯ ori health entity
Better outcomes sought when Te Mana Hauora Ma¯ ori launches
[Our hope] is for
outcomes determined by the patient, wha¯ nau,
hapu and iwi. Pat Cook, Te Manu Toroa CEO
Treatment options for rangatahi, clear communication with frontline health providers, equitable funding and results. These are the top items on the wishlists of local health advocates for the new Ma¯ori Health Authority, Te Mana Hauora Ma¯ori.
The entity will launch on July 1, alongside the new Health New Zealand.
The Government’s Budget 2022 allocated $168 million over four years to the authority’s budget for purchasing Ma¯ori population health and prevention-based services.
Mental health advocate Michael Naera has been “battling” for a separate Ma¯ori health system for some time.
“When the announcement was made, I was over the moon,” Naera said.
Te Mana Hauora Ma¯ori will work in partnership with both the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand to make sure Ma¯ori health needs are understood and met by policy and targeted services with a kaupapa Ma¯ori approach.
At the local level, Iwi-ma¯ori Partnership Boards will have decisionmaking roles. They will also be the primary source of wha¯nau voice in the system.
It comes after the Pae Ora or Healthy Futures Bill passed its third reading in Parliament last week.
Naera said making sure the new entity lived up to expectations was “the next fight”.
“The proof is in the pudding.” For Naera, the “pudding” would need to include more mental health treatment options for rangatahi.
“I sat down with my family and I asked them what they would like.
“Their wish is that the authority starts conversing with wha¯nau, iwi and hapu.”
Naera said rangatahi who were experiencing severe mental distress needed more treatment options that included Ma¯ ori methods of healing or rongoa¯ .
“That’s the biggest thing that’s missing, and that doesn’t just apply to mental health services.”
Te Manu Toroa chief executive Pat Cook said the biggest hope for the new authority has always been the best health outcomes for Ma¯ori.
“[Our hope] is for outcomes determined by the patient, wha¯nau, hapu and iwi.”
While Cook questioned whether the authority would receive the resources needed to make sure the system went through a “transformational change”, she said she believed the new system would have a positive impact.
Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao Trust general practitioner Dr Grace Malcolm said she hoped the new authority would be able to fulfil the principles of the Pae Ora legislation.
“The system [should] work from the ground up so that the average Joe on the ground has input.”
Malcolm said those in the new system would also need to buy into and advocate for the principles of the Healthy Futures Bill.
Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency chairwoman, Lakes District
Health Board member and Rotorua District councillor Merepeka Ruakawa-tait, said the authority would have the opportunity to drill into the significant health issues that affect Maori.
“These are well known, including diabetes, obesity, heart and respiratory problems. “But more import
antly [the authority] can raise with government the wider issues contributing to this sorry situation: housing, income, schooling, justice and so on.”
Ruakawa-tait said Te Mana Hauora was starting with a clean slate so there would be “no more excuses”.
“They can play a major role in getting wha¯nau Ma¯ori to raise their own expectations about being healthy.
“I hope Hauora Ma¯ori will encourage Maori to identify their own local health needs, make health literacy a priority and start as early as possible.”
Te Runanga O Ngati Ranginui Iwi Mataora Services manager Roy Nathan said his main concerns were equitable funding.
“The philosophy is great. We want to see the resourcing to back it up.”
Nathan said as the manager of a mental health, addiction and family health service he would particularly like to see more services available in the trauma space.
Nathan would also like to see clear communication between the new authority and frontline workers.
“The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result,” Nathan said.
“I’m very open to trying something new. For many years there have been poor outcomes for our wha¯nau and change is much-needed.”